By: Lillie Lelko
Southern celebrated its annual Giving Day on April 8 and 9 with competitions, challenges and festivities, raising $401,169 so far, according to the Southern website.
Sandra Araujo-Delgado, Southern’s associate director of annual giving, said that she started planning for Giving Day in August.
“There was a lot of communication with the departments about encouraging them to come up with a project they want to fundraise for… and what’s on their wish lists for their students,” Araujo-Delgado said.
According to Southern’s website, “Southern Giving Day is an opportunity for the Southern community—alumni, parents, employees, students, and friends—to come together and make a difference in students’ lives.”
This year’s Giving Day had a new emphasis, according to Heaven Robles, a junior biology research major and student association (SA) secretary.
“This year they had an emphasis on trying to make students feel more involved,” Robles said.
“We did convocation in a new way… we were very intentional, making it not just student focused, but student led.” Araujo-Delgado said. “We want students to be a part of it.”
During the convocation, eight different departments pitched a project that they hoped to find funding for. The first place prize was $3,000, the second prize was $2,000, and the third was $1,000, according to Araujo-Delgado.
“The main purpose for [the convocation] was to help students see how these projects will impact them,” Araujo-Delgado said.
To encourage student participation, students were allotted $5 from a collection of donations during the Giving Day carnival, and asked to choose which department it went to, according to Robles.
Priscille Mikala, a music performance major and the vice president of SA, worked with senate to coordinate Ggiving Dday.
“[This year] was better organized, since the senators knew what to expect… so everything flowed really nicely,” Mikala said.
Mikala saw that the student focus this year brought more student participation.
“More people were there [on the promenade] to just interact with students.” Mikala said. “This year they were coming out to us,” she continued.
Student opinion
Robles said that she learned more about Giving Day through organizing it this year.
Joshua Jenkins, a senior biology-research major, shared a positive opinion of Giving Day.
“I see it as a fantastic program for smaller departments to let students learn how to raise funds. Learning to fundraise is even more important than the funds.”
Amara Mendoza, a junior nursing major, shared her appreciation for the funds raised.
“I am happy the music department got more funds this year,” she said.
Araujo-Delgado said she sees Giving Day as an opportunity for students to get involved with Southern.
“I know students care deeply about each other,” she said. “I want them to see that Southern getting involved in Giving Day [is] not ‘Southern’s coming for your wallet’… it’s about showing your love and care about the things that make a difference for you.”
Araujo-Delgado expressed her desire for students to know more about what Giving Day really is.
“I know there are mixed feelings on campus from the students about Giving Day, that some students feel like its offensive,” Araujo-Delgado said. “I would love for somebody to sit here and tell me why they feel this way… I think it’s mostly because students don’t understand fully.”
“The administration is not benefiting from this, the faculty are not benefiting from this, the beneficiaries are the students,” Araujo-Delgado said.
